Open AccessEnvironmental dependence of the structure of brightest cluster galaxies
Author(s) -
Brough S.,
Collins C. A.,
Burke D. J.,
Lynam P. D.,
Mann R. G.
Publication year - 2005
Publication title -
monthly notices of the royal astronomical society
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.058
H-Index - 383
eISSN - 1365-2966
pISSN - 0035-8711
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2966.2005.09679.x
Subject(s) - physics , astrophysics , luminosity , cluster (spacecraft) , surface brightness , galaxy , galaxy cluster , brightest cluster galaxy , redshift , astronomy , galaxy groups and clusters , computer science , programming language
We measure the Petrosian structural properties of 33 brightest cluster galaxies (BCGs) at redshifts z ≤ 0.1 in X‐ray selected clusters with a wide range of X‐ray luminosities. We find that some BCGs show distinct signatures in their Petrosian profiles, likely to be due to cD haloes. We also find that BCGs in high X‐ray luminosity clusters have shallower surface brightness profiles than those in low X‐ray luminosity clusters. This suggests that the BCGs in high X‐ray luminosity clusters have undergone up to twice as many equal‐mass mergers in their past as those in low X‐ray luminosity clusters. This is qualitatively consistent with the predictions of hierarchical structure formation.